Attachment for envelop-machines.



No. 781,579. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. E. M. WILGOX.

ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOP MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 6. 7n. wtzcb No. 781,579. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. E. M. WILGOX.

ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOP MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wkkmmsws: mower.

6 7 5 AVE,

No. 781,579. PATENTED JAN. 81, 1905. E. M. WILGOX.

ATTACHMENT FOB. ENVELOP MACHINES.

APPLIOATION YILED MAY 5,1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

finesse/s: Tnveni or No. 781,579. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. B. M. WILGOX.

ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOP MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1898.

4 SHEETSBHEET 4.

No. 781,579. Patented January 31, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EI)\\'AI I) M. IVILCOX. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSHINOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOSEPH H. KNIGHT, OF (.IIIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOP-IVIACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,579, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed May 5,1898. Serial No. 679,818.

"1/ wrl/(f/(fl'lbf In the accompanyingdrawings, Figurel is l-Ie it known that I, EDWARD M. \YILcoX, a a front elevation of my improved attachment, 5 resident of hicago, in the county of Cook and showing the tln-ead-carricr and its reciprocat- State of Illinois, have invented certain new and ing support in their lowermost position. Fig. useful Improvements in Attachments for En- 2 is a rear elevation showing the thread-carvelop-llachines; and I do hereby declare the rier and its support in their highest position. followingto he a full, clear, and exact descrip- Fig. 3 is a transverse plan section. Fig. 4c is 55 tionoftheinvention, such as willcnable others a hroken-away plan of one of the gripperskilled in theart to which itappertains to make arms. Fig. is a detached detail of a fric- IO and use the same. tion clutch-pulley, and Fig. (I is adetail of a This invention relates to an improved anti threml-cutting device. Fig. I is a detached matic attachment for envelop-machines, and sectional detail of the tl1re:ul-carrier hul) on 00 has for its object to provide a simple and efliline T, Fig. 8, the gripper-armsbeing broken cient device for laying and securing a thread away; and Fig. 8 is a section on line 8, Fig. 7. or strand in the folding-crease of the sealing- Fig. I) is a broken side elevation of the outer flap of envelops without in the least interfcrend of one of the tliread-carrier arms. ing with the 'full working capacity of the ma- A represents a hase-plate. 13 B are side 5 chine to which it may he attached. framing-posts, the lower ends of which are so- The object of inserting a thread, strand, or cured in the hase-plate and the upper ends the like in one of the folding-creases of enconnectedhyatransvcrse cap-plate A. These velops is to provide a practical means for conparts together form a stationary frame for the veniently opening the same. proper support of the working mechanism. 7

The idea of inserting an opening thread or A sliding frame having a vertical reciprocatstrand in an envelop is an old one; but the ing movement is mounted in the stationary 5 great ditliculty has been in the want of suitframe and consists of the two transverse side able mechanism that would successfully acplates 0 O, the bearing-blocks 0 c, rigidly complish the desired object without interferlixed between and secured to the respective 75 ing with or delaying the working of the en ends of the transverse side plates and adapted velop-machine, as the price at which the prodto have a sliding bearing with the inner sides net is retailed makes it necessarythat the opof the frame-posts B B, and the upright coneration of laying the thread be done at some nectingguide-harswe, having their lower ends step in the process of making the envelops, secured to the transverse plalesUb near their 30 and thus avoiding a second handling of the longitudinal center and their upper ends insame. serted loosely through slots in the cap-plate In the manufacture of envelops it is neces- A and connecting with theinnerei'nlof an opsary that the gum applied to the sealing-flap erating-lever I). This lever is fulcrumed in shall hedriedhefore theenvelopsarehunched. the upper end of a standard (1, which pro- 5 To accomplish the drying process, envelopvides for a rocking movement, the outer end machines are provided with a mechanism beingadapted to engage withsuitahle mechan- 4 termed the drying-carrir, which carries ism for operatively connecting the same with from three hundred to live hundred envelops some moving part of an enveIop-nnuzhine. at a time in the process of drying. The usual \Yithin the sliding reciprocating frame-sup- 9 *apacity of the ordinary envelop-machine is port is mounted mechanism forming a revoone hundred or more per minute, and my atluhle thread- -arrier adapted to grip, carry,

taclunent is so constructed and connected with and lay the threads or strands in the envelops.

the drying-carrier that it will successfully lay l The tliread-carrier consists of a spider comthe thread in each envelop as fast as they are l prising an axial hul) It an d a number of radimade. I

all y-disposed arms I; r r" a n. The inner ends of these arms are adjustably inserted endwise in their axial hub and the outer ends bifurcated to provide gripper-jaws and positioned to correspond to the successive angles of a polygon. The gripper-jaws have a closing and opening action in gripping and releasing the thread at the proper time. The hub E is made in two parts and is separable on a line through the center, as shown in Fig. 8. The inner joining faces of the two parts are grooved at intervals to a depth corresponding approximately to one-half the thickness of the gripper-arms and provide socket-apertures e for the reception'of the inner ends of the gripper-arms. The hub parts are joined together by a number of screws 6, disposed at intervals between the gripper-arms. By slacking back on these screws the pressure on the arms is relaxed and they may be shortened or lengthened, as required. By tightening up on the screws the arms are clamped rigidly in the position to which they have been adjusted.

The hub E of the thread-carrier is mounted on the shaft 0' and has suitable bearings in the side plates C C. The shaft 0' passes through both side plates and projects on one side. Upon this projection of the shaft 0 and outside of the side plate is a friction clutch-pulley F, as shown in Fig. 5. Attached at one end and engaging the face or rim of the clutchpulley F is a steel band or ribbon f, having its other and outer end suitably attached to the fixed arm f on the post B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and on the outer side of the clutchpulley F, as at f is attached one end of a coil tension-springf, the other end being attached to the fixed arm f on the side plate C at its extremity, as shown in Fig. 3, and serves to return the clutch-pulley F to its normal position. in construction the friction clutchpulley F, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a circular hollow casing having a plain or grooved face, as a pulley, which revolves loosely upon the projecting end of the shaft 0, bearing upon the outside of the side plate C. l/Vithin this hollow casing and rigidlyfixed to the shaft 0 is a bifurcated dog 0, carrying a pawl 0 and a lock-spring 0 engaging the pawl 0', the said casing being closed by a movable plate on its outer side. As the sliding reciprocating frame moves upwardly the friction clutch F, by means of the band or ribbon f, is made to engage the shaft 0 and imparts one-fifth of a revolution to the thread-carrier or spider. This rotary movement of the thread-carrier is intermittent, with a distinct interval of rest between each movement, and is in a plane transverse to the path of the drying-carrier of the envelop-machine. Each intermittent rotary movement of the thread-carrier brings one of the gripper-arms into position to seize the thread and the next two arms in advance thereof into position to cut, release, and lay so much of the thread as is held therebetween,

the intermediate arm of the three arms gripping the thread at the same time and retaining its hold of the end of the thread from which the last segment has been severed.

The horizontal end of a spring-stop a is secured to the under side of the cross top plate .A, the vertical disengaged drop end stopping short in the path of the gripper-arms. A movable latch o is inserted in one of the upright guide-bars and projects inwardly far enough to let the gripper-arms in the order of succession strike the beveled end and force the same outwardly and pass by. As the arms pass out of contact the spring o forces the latch back to its normal position for the contact of the next following arm. The latch 0 is straight on the back side and limits the back movement of the arms as, the thread-carrier moves downwardly. The intermittent rotation of the thread-carrier or spider takes place on the up movement thereof, the arm first in contact with the spring-stop a turning farenough to clear the same and give place to the next succeeding arm to come in contact therewith as the thread-carrier reaches the limit of its stroke on the up movement. This spring-stop serves to relieve the concussion as the tl'lread-carrier comes to a full stop and forces the particular arm in contact back against the latch 0 and holds said arm in an exact vertical position for the down movement. The gripper-arms are so disposed that when one arm rests in a vertical-position the ends of the two lowermost arms holding the thread are in the same horizontal plane and in position to lay the thread when the down movement is completed.

H represents a section of the envelop or drying carrier, Fig. 1, of an envelop-machine, showing the relative position of the threadlaying attachment when in a working position. The stationary frame of the attachment is so positioned that thedrying-carrier travels over the base-plate A thereof and directly under the tlnead-carrier, bringing each envelop into position for the engagement of the thread-laying mechanism.

The threadgripping ends of the spider-arms are bifurcated to form the gripper-jaws and consist of, Fig. 4, a movable jaw m, a flat spring-hinge m, and a rigid jaw 111 which is an integral part of the arms. The jaw mis movably retained in place by .means of the spring-hinge on. These jaws are mortised or slotted in their outer ends for the insertion of an operating-latch having a projecting head with shoulders adapted to engage the outside of the movable jaw m and is pivoted in the mortise of the rigid jaw, as at a. A flat spring 22. is attached to the outer side of the rigid jaw m and bears with its free end against the heel of the latch a, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 4. The extreme free end of the spring a terminates in aspringtongue bent at right angles and extending into recesses in the ends of both gripper-jaws. as shown at n". V

The stop-blocks (l (,t are secured to the ot' the gripper-jaws. attached to the block gage with and sever the thread-segment on A cutting device is (t and is adapted to on- 1 the advancing side of the gripper-arm w. the

supply end of the thread being retained in the grippers of this and the succeeding arms.

The gripperjaws so opened remain open until they get i around approximately to the position of arm /.where the thread 1' is reengaged by the grippers. which as they continue to advance come i in contact with a spring w. secured to oneof the transverse bars in the path of the revolving arms. the pressure of this spring operating to close the gripper-jaws and clamp the thread. so that the operation of opening and closing the jaws is entirely automatic. The sides or space between the grimier-arms spanned by the thread-segment will be somewhat greater than the length of an envelop. so that one or both ends of the measured thread at'ter it is laid will project far enough to be conveniently grasped by the lingers in the operation ot opening the envelop.

Provision is made for threading envelops ot dilierent lengths by shortening or length ening the gripper-arms and changing the relative distance between the stop-blocl s (t (1". On the cap-plate A and directly under the lever l) is tixed a gum-vat .l. also on the capplate A.

Near its connection to the post B j is a thread supply or spool 1. having suitable i tensu'm-screws. from which the thread 1' passes through two eyeways on the cap-plate X. through an eye in the lever 1 into the vat J. through an eye. in the bottom thereot. and out over its edge and downwardly throughan eye in the cap-plate extending downwardly in the path ot and where it is gripped and carricd by the gripper-arms. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this means the thread is coated with an adhesive composition to insure its sticking in the envelops.

The attaclnnentwill ordinarily be connected 1 moved away bodily trom the path of the drying-carrier and is rotated tar enough tobring another thread-segment into position and again move down in time to engage the next succeedingenvelop. and so on continuously.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters latent. is

l. The combination with an envelop-carrier. of a tlucad-carrier mounted to rotate in a plane transverse to the envelopcarriers path. and means for moving the thread-carrier perimlically toward and away lrom that path.

2. The combination with an envelop-carrier ot a tlu'ezul-carrier mounted to rotate in a plane transverse to the path ot the envelopcarrier and provided with a scriesot' armseach having at its end a thread-grip auz and means for moving the thread-carricr bodily toward and away from that path.

3. The combination with an envelop-carrier. ot a revolubly-tmamtcd tlnead-carrier arranged to move bodily toward and away from the envelop-carrier. a series 0 t grippers upon the tln'ezul-carrier for holding thread at points corresponding to the successiveangles of a polygon having the threml-carriefs axis within it. whereby the thread is carried around i said axis. means tor imparting intermittent rotation to the tlu'ezul-carricr. and means for actuating said grippers during the intervals of such rotation.

It. The combination with a stationanv frame. of a thread-carrier revolubly mounted upon a support reciprocating in said frame, and devices borne by the t'rame in position to resist direct advance of the. carrier with its reciprocating support and thus to compel rotation of said carrier.

The combination with an envelop-carrier. of a reciprocating frame. a thread-carrier mounted upon said frame to rotate in a plane transverse to the path of the envelopcarrier and provided with a series of arms. grippers borne at the ends of the arms. respectively. and means whereby the rotation of the threml-carrier causes said grippers to open and close at certain intervals.

(3. The combination with an envelopcarrier. ot a thread-carrier mounted to move bodily toward and away from the envelop-carrier. to rotate in a plane transverse to the path of the envelop-carricr. and provided with a series of arms hearing grippers at their ends. and means for delivering thread to the grippers in the plane and direction of their rotation.

7. In apparatus tor the purpose set forth. the combination with a thrtnul-carrier having a series of thread-grippcrs spaced about an axis of rotation. and means whereby the distance of the grippers from that axis may be changed at will.

8. The combination with a rotary threadcarrier having grippers arranged to hold the thread at points more than an envelopslength apart and corresponding in location with the successive angles of a polygon whose center is the carriers axis of rotation, means for r0- tating the carrier step by step to bring the thread-segments successively into a certain fixed position, and means for moving the carrier back and forth.

9. The combination with an envelop-carrier, of a revolubly-mounted thread-carrier, a series of grippers borne by the thread-carrier and located as if at all the angles of a polygon whose center is the axis of rotation of the thread-carrier and whose sides are slightly longer than an envelop, means for intermittently rotating the thread-carrier to bring the thread-segments, between successive grippers, one after the other to the same position upon the side next the envelop-carrier, and means for causing one of the carriers to approach the other while the thread-carrier is not rotating.

10. A rotary thread-carrier having arms whose ends are located as if at all the angles, respectively, of a regular polygon whose center is the axis of rotation and whose sides are slightly longer than an envelop, automatic thread-grippers mounted at the ends of the arms, respectively, means for rotating the carrier step by step through angles corresponding to the angular distance between successive grippers, and automatic means for opening each gripper as it reaches a certain point in its rotary path.

11. A rotary thread-carrier havinga series of grippers located as if at all the angles, respectivel y, of a regular polygon having its center in the axis of rotation.

In witness whereof I have signed'this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of May, 1898.

EDXVARD M. VVILCOX. lVitnesses:

J AMES H. l/Vnsrco'r'r,

K. l l. HENDERSON. 

